Internally Displaced Persons: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993
Implementations
Internally Displaced Persons – 1993
Provisions related to the resettlement of IDPs in the Arusha Accord were not implemented in 1993.
Internally Displaced Persons – 1994
The genocidal violence of 1994 produced massive waves of displacement. By the end of the genocide, an estimated 2 million people had fled to neighboring countries and an estimated 3 million were internally displaced.[fn]”UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1994/924), August 3, 1994.[/efn_note] In late October there were an estimated 1.2 million Rwandan refugees in Zaire, 270,000 in Burundi, and over 500,000 in Tanzania.[fn]”World Report-Rwanda,” Human Rights Watch, 1995, accessed September 22, 2011, http://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/WR95/AFRICA-08.htm#P397_139563.[/efn_note] At the end of 1994, there were 2-3 million people displaced. The largest portion sought refuge in the French-controlled Zone Tourquoise in south-west Rwanda. Most of these were Hutu who fled the RPF. When the French pulled out, the IDPs remained in large camps. The transitional government in its eight point program reiterated that one of its main goals was the repatriation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons.[fn]”UN Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations (S/1995/107), February 6, 1995.[/efn_note]
Internally Displaced Persons – 1995
In April 1995, the UN Officials started to close the IDP camps, which initiative was supported by the government. The first operation was launched on 18 April 1995 when the army surrounded Kibeho camp. The government maintained the position that the internal security had improved significantly and therefore the IDPs should return to their communities. To force the IDPs out of the camp, the government adopted a strategy of not providing food to IDPs, it also deployed the army in the camps.1 As such, the RPF sought to close the camps and eventually turned to force. In April 1995, RPF troops opened fire on IDPs at Kibeho, killing several thousand people.
- “Rwanda; Rehabilitation Minister Discusses Strategy of Closing Displaced Persons’ Camps,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 20, 1995.
Internally Displaced Persons – 1996
No developments observed this year.
Internally Displaced Persons – 1997
No developments observed this year.
Internally Displaced Persons – 1998
In 1998, the government had started the task of resettling thousands of IDPs in Ruhengeri Prefecture. The IDPs received food items and farming implements.1 The UNHCR, however, reported some 625,000 new IDPs in 1998.2
- “Rwanda Begins Resettling Thousands of Villagers in Northwest,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, May 28, 1998.
- “2002-UNHCR Statistical Yearbook-Rwanda,” UNHCR, 2004, accessed 19 August 2011, http://www.unhcr.org/414ad5a50.html.
Internally Displaced Persons – 1999
The UNHCR reported the return of some 625,000 IDPs in 1998.1 The organization also reported 38,420 refugeesÕ return from Zaire.2
Internally Displaced Persons – 2000
From 2000 onward, there were no further developments on IDPs reported.
Internally Displaced Persons – 2001
No further developments observed.
Internally Displaced Persons – 2002
No further developments observed.